The winners of the singapore prize were celebrated at a gala ceremony in Singapore. It was hosted by Emmy Award winning actress Hannah Waddingham and three-time Emmy winning actor Sterling K. Brown. The evening was a spectacular celebration of the 15 Finalists’ inspiring stories and featured performances from artists and performers including Bastille, OneRepublic, Cate Blanchett, Lana Condor, Donnie Yen, and Robert Irwin.
The NUS Singapore History Prize is awarded to publications that make a significant contribution to our understanding of Singapore’s history. Created in 2014 as part of the SG50 programme, it recognises non-fiction works that are both intellectually rigorous and accessible to a broad readership.
In his citation, NUS historian Prof John Miksic said that this year’s winner “Leluhur: Singapore Kampong Gelam” is a work of synthesis that presents history as a living process, rather than as the linear account of big movers and shakers. He added that the book is a reminder to Singaporeans that they don’t need to be professional historians to write a history of their country.
Another notable publication in the shortlist is Home Is Where We Are by Shelly Bryant, which focuses on the legacy of a Singaporean-Chinese couple who founded the TOTO lottery empire. The book shows how they built their business on a simple philosophy that life shouldn’t be about the pursuit of riches or social status. The book also explores how the family was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and how they led an initiative to give thank-you gifts to Town Council cleaners at their Ang Mo Kio estate.
Meanwhile, NUS Press publisher Hidayah Amin’s Leluhur: Singapore Kampong Gelam was praised for its meticulous research and elegantly-crafted design. The citation read that this is a history book “that is both a record of the past and also a primary source, thanks to its author’s personal input.”
A biopic about an iconic Singaporean rock band was among the runners-up for the 2022 NUS Singapore Literature Prize. Ning Cai, a film by acclaimed director Yeo Siew Lin, tells the story of the band that became synonymous with the Singapore music scene in the 1980s. The film stars Donnie Yen, Lana Condor, Robert Irwin and Bastille’s lead singer Dan Reynolds.
This year’s prize was given out in the presence of Britain’s Prince William at a ceremony at Mediacorp Theatre. The event was a star-studded affair, with guests dressed in all shades of green to match the thick green carpet. Prince William told the audience that the solutions from the finalists showed that hope “does exist as we confront the challenge of climate change”. He also announced the launch of a new Earthshot Week in partnership with his own charity, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Harry Foundation. It will see global leaders and businesses convene in Singapore to accelerate the Prize winners’ solutions and bring about tangible action to repair the planet. Local activations will be held as well.